Jonus is an interesting pilot. He's not cheap, and he doesn't support cheap ships, so you have to be careful with points. Additionally, his ability doesn't affect himself, so the armaments of his allies probably aren't appropriate for him.

He doesn't buff his own ordnance, and he's too much of an investment to make no combat contribution in a list, so what do you do? On top of this, he's got an EPT, which is always nice, but another way to put points into a guy who will be a target.

I'm interested in everyone's builds for this guy, taking advantage of his strengths without sucking too many points from his supporting cast.

I'll start:

Control Jonus

Jonus 22

Deadeye 1

Expanded Munitions 2

Ion Pulse Missile 3

Flechette Torpedo 2

31

Ion Pulse Missiles control big ships for a couple turns, Flechettes blunt action-dependent aces. Deadeye lets you fire effectively against higher PS pilots from the first engagement turn. 31 points is more than I'd like, but he supplements his squad by controlling enemy movement as well as providing rerolls. With 3 Scimitars, there's still 21 points for warheads on the other bombers.

Best use for Jonus: Upgradeless, and flying near Cluster Missiles or Cannons.

His ability as a support ship is of greater value than his use as a weapons platform - so ditch the missiles and torps

This also makes him a target - he's got no shields and a stack of hull points - use Determination, and a shield upgrade if you can afford it.

If he's supporting a bomber swarm with secondaries, their biggest challenge is gaining target locks at low PS - so forgo offensive power for sharing target locks - Tracers, more than one, maybe 4 . - PS 6 isn't fantastic for this - maybe think of VI instead of Determination

The Bomber's dial is kind of funky - TIE MKII

Push the Limit and Twin Ion Engine mk II will let him make the most out of his two attack dice and his action bar.

You can substitute Predator if you want a better chance at landing Cluster Missiles.

He works great alongside other bombers, but ships with cannons like him too. Shuttles with Heavy Laser Cannons, or the Imperial Raider making 3 secondary weapon attacks each round.

He's been slightly marginalized with the release of the Tie Punisher since all those ships are able to equip systems for FCS enhanced Cluster Missiles and action economy.

If you just wanted a single ship packing ordinance in your list, the new Punisher Aces are superior. For reliable payload delivery, you no longer need Jonus + friend. Redline can handle that job on his own. The 5 point difference in cost is a bargain since it provides 3 shields, boost, and a system slot.

A lot of the times Jonus might be useful, a Colonel Jendon could proably fill the same role, while being more durable and packing a heavier punch. In a 100 point game, having 22 points on the board just devoted to providing a bubble of rerolls could have been better spent on another ship. Keeping all your ships within 1 of Jonus and pointed at the enemy is tough.

If the Empire had any cheap ships that could use turret secondaries, he would find a home flying in their midst. Maybe if they give Tie Defenders a title that let them discount 6 points from all the secondary weapons they equip.

My bomber lists are all in flux now, since I'm trying to figure out what I want to do most with the Punisher and start getting some serious table time. But at the moment, I'm thinking about something like this:

Captain Jonus (22)

Deadeye (1)

Extra Munitions (2)

Flechette Torpedoes (2)

Ion Pulse Missiles (3)

Black Eight Squadron Pilot (23)

Fire-Control System (2)

Proton Torpedoes (4)

Extra Munitions (2)

Cluster Missiles (4)

Black Eight Squadron Pilot (23)

Fire-Control System (2)

Proton Torpedoes (4)

Extra Munitions (2)

Cluster Missiles (4)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Jonus

+ XX23 Tracers

+ XX23 Tracers

Scimitar

+ Extra Munitions

+ Concussion Missiles

Scimitar

+ Extra Munitions
+ Concussion Missiles

Lambda

+ Engine Upgrades

+ HLC

For clarification, no Tracers. They are amazing, but won't be out for a while.

For clarification, no Tracers. They are amazing, but won't be out for a while.

They're not that key, anyway.

Swap 'em for a Tactician, if you like.

For clarification, no Tracers. They are amazing, but won't be out for a while.

They're not that key, anyway.

Swap 'em for a Tactician, if you like.

How familiar are you with bombers?

For clarification, no Tracers. They are amazing, but won't be out for a while.

They're not that key, anyway.

Swap 'em for a Tactician, if you like.

How familiar are you with bombers?

A tactician on the Shuttle, the single ship in the list that can take one.

Didn't think that needed to be said.

I've flown 3 Scims + Jonus a lot and in my experience Jonus should never cost more than 25pts.

The primary reason for that is that he draws so much fire - even more so now with EM.

Jonus is outstanding with the Raider. All of it's attacks are secondary, keep him near and have fun!

For clarification, no Tracers. They are amazing, but won't be out for a while.

They're not that key, anyway.

Swap 'em for a Tactician, if you like.

How familiar are you with bombers?

A tactician on the Shuttle, the single ship in the list that can take one.

Didn't think that needed to be said.

Sorry, that was me having a severe lapse in reading comprehension. I blame my screaming toddler.

Captain Jonus (22)

Push the Limit (3)

Extra Munitions (2)

Plasma Torpedoes (3)

Cluster Missiles (4)

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)

Extra Munitions (2)

Plasma Torpedoes (3)

Cluster Missiles (4)

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

"Redline" (27)

Fire-Control System (2)

Extra Munitions (2)

Plasma Torpedoes (3)

Cluster Missiles (4)

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

My plan for next game night.

There aren't many pilots that don't need Jonus around at all, but Redline is one of them. I feel like Jonus is the guy you use when you're loading up your whole list with ordnance, and Redline is the guy you splash in if you're just running one ship loaded up.

It's already been said but it's worth repeating, Jonus needs to be kept cheap. I like to take him with Swarm Tactics and Shield Upgrade flying with three Scimitars full of missiles and bombs. With the release of Extra Munitions I like this force even more.

I'm going to be using the scimitars and Jonus with the new bomb upgrades.

Punisher is cool looking but really over costed IMO.

I'm going to be using the scimitars and Jonus with the new bomb upgrades.

Punisher is cool looking but really over costed IMO.

It's about 25% more expensive, and for that you get about 15% more durability, better range control, and access to a system slot.

Captain Jonus (22)Push the Limit (3)Extra Munitions (2)Plasma Torpedoes (3)Cluster Missiles (4)Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)Extra Munitions (2)Plasma Torpedoes (3)Cluster Missiles (4)Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

"Redline" (27)Fire-Control System (2)Extra Munitions (2)Plasma Torpedoes (3)Cluster Missiles (4)Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

My plan for next game night.

There aren't many pilots that don't need Jonus around at all, but Redline is one of them. I feel like Jonus is the guy you use when you're loading up your whole list with ordnance, and Redline is the guy you splash in if you're just running one ship loaded up.

Which is why red line will act as bait while the other two flank, it may fail horribly but I figure what the hay in for a penny in for a pound (or 1.54 dollars).

The systems slot is of most interest for sure.

Still feel like more cheap bombers is better than 1 loaded up punisher. Too many eggs in one basket.

Dunno having seen the conner net template I can see deathtrain being a real pain for large ships.

And redlines got a great set up to use torps and missiles.

Is Jonus Brothers still a thing? Having multiple HLCs with modified dice seems good against two-ship builds but I guess the consensus is that TLTs will push them out of the meta (though I have yet to see that happen). Anyway, for those who haven't seen it, Jonus Bros. was Jonus with a seismic and Swarm Tactics plus Deltas with HLCs. I always really dug the list but I tend to play with my heart more than my head and I've loved Defenders since I was a kid playing the TIE Fighter PC game.

Is Jonus Brothers still a thing? Having multiple HLCs with modified dice seems good against two-ship builds but I guess the consensus is that TLTs will push them out of the meta (though I have yet to see that happen). Anyway, for those who haven't seen it, Jonus Bros. was Jonus with a seismic and Swarm Tactics plus Deltas with HLCs. I always really dug the list but I tend to play with my heart more than my head and I've loved Defenders since I was a kid playing the TIE Fighter PC game.

I'd probably drop that seismic for the Mk. II upgrade for the Defenders these days.

Is Jonus Brothers still a thing? Having multiple HLCs with modified dice seems good against two-ship builds but I guess the consensus is that TLTs will push them out of the meta (though I have yet to see that happen). Anyway, for those who haven't seen it, Jonus Bros. was Jonus with a seismic and Swarm Tactics plus Deltas with HLCs. I always really dug the list but I tend to play with my heart more than my head and I've loved Defenders since I was a kid playing the TIE Fighter PC game.

I'd probably drop that seismic for the Mk. II upgrade for the Defenders these days.

Thaaaat sounds like a sweet list - can't wait for Wave 7 to get to Alaska!!!